In vivo temperature control system

Abstract

An in vivo temperature control system includes a catheter insertable into a biological lumen; two or more temperature sensors placed such that they can measure a temperature distribution in a longitudinal direction of the biological lumen; a liquid storage section that stores a liquid; and a control section that estimates a spatial change in the biological lumen based on a temperature change before and after the liquid in the liquid storage section is released outwardly through the catheter, wherein the temperature change is measured by each of two or more temperature sensors.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . An in vivo temperature control system comprising:
 a catheter insertable into a biological lumen;   two or more temperature sensors placed such that they can measure a temperature distribution in a longitudinal direction of the biological lumen;   a liquid storage section that stores a liquid; and   a control section that estimates a spatial change in the biological lumen based on a temperature change before and after the liquid in the liquid storage section is released outwardly through the catheter,   wherein the temperature change is measured by each of the two or more temperature sensors;   wherein the spatial change is a narrowed state or obstructed state of the biological lumen;   wherein, in estimating the spatial change in the biological lumen, the control section judges that the biological lumen is not in the narrowed state or obstructed state when temperature changes larger than a preset threshold are detected by all of the two or more temperature sensors.   
     
     
         2 . The in vivo temperature control system of  claim 1 , further comprising a monitor that displays signals detected by the temperature sensors, as a visual information,
 wherein the monitor allows an operator to know the spatial change in the biological lumen.   
     
     
         3 . An in vivo temperature control system comprising:
 a catheter insertable into a biological lumen;   two or more temperature sensors placed such that they can measure a temperature distribution in a longitudinal direction of the biological lumen;   a liquid storage section that stores a liquid; and   a control section that estimates a spatial change in the biological lumen based on a temperature change before and after the liquid in the liquid storage section is released outwardly through the catheter,   wherein the temperature change is measured by each of the two or more temperature sensors;   wherein the spatial change is a narrowed state or obstructed state of the biological lumen;   wherein, in estimating the spatial change in the biological lumen, the control section judges that the biological lumen is in the narrowed state or obstructed state based on, in the temperature changes in the longitudinal direction of the biological lumen detected by the two or more temperature sensors, whether a temperature change smaller than a preset threshold is detected by any one of the temperature sensors, and temperature changes larger than the preset threshold are detected by all the temperature sensors positioned downstream, in the flowing direction of the liquid, of the temperature sensor that detects the temperature change smaller than the threshold.   
     
     
         4 . An in vivo temperature control system comprising:
 a catheter insertable into a biological lumen;   two or more temperature sensors placed such that they can measure a temperature distribution in a longitudinal direction of the biological lumen;   a liquid storage section that stores a liquid; and   a control section that estimates a spatial change in the biological lumen based on a temperature change before and after the liquid in the liquid storage section is released outwardly through the catheter,   wherein the temperature change is measured by each of the two or more temperature sensors;   wherein the spatial change is a narrowed state or obstructed state of the biological lumen;   comprising an alert output section that outputs an alert when the biological lumen is judged to be in the narrowed state or obstructed state;   wherein, in estimating the spatial change in the biological lumen, the control section judges that the biological lumen is not in the narrowed state or obstructed state when temperature changes larger than a preset threshold are detected by all the two or more temperature sensors.   
     
     
         5 . An in vivo temperature control system comprising:
 a catheter insertable into a biological lumen;   two or more temperature sensors placed such that they can measure a temperature distribution in a longitudinal direction of the biological lumen;   a liquid storage section that stores a liquid; and   a control section that estimates a spatial change in the biological lumen based on a temperature change before and after the liquid in the liquid storage section is released outwardly through the catheter,   wherein the temperature change is measured by each of the two or more temperature sensors;   wherein the spatial change is a narrowed state or obstructed state of the biological lumen; comprising an alert output section that outputs an alert when the biological lumen is judged to be in the narrowed state or obstructed state;   wherein, in estimating the spatial change in the biological lumen, the control section judges that the biological lumen is in the narrowed state or obstructed state based on, in the temperature changes in the longitudinal direction of the biological lumen detected by the two or more temperature sensors, whether a temperature change smaller than a preset threshold is detected by any one of the temperature sensors, and temperature changes larger than the preset threshold are detected by all the temperature sensors positioned downstream, in the flowing direction of the liquid, of the temperature sensor that detects the temperature change smaller than the threshold.